Can Liverpool End Manchester City’s Dreams of The Treble?

It’s been a great season so far for both Liverpool and Manchester City.

Jurgen Klopp’s men are currently on course for another Top Four finish and have one of the best players in the world in their ranks right now in Mo Salah. City have been superb throughout the campaign and have the Premier League title all but sewn up. They have literally blown teams away and have already collected a trophy after winning the Carabao Cup.

City have an unblemished record in the Premier League so far, apart from one defeat, which came against Liverpool at Anfield. City had beaten Liverpool at the Etihad at the start of the campaign, but you could say that Sadio Mane’s early dismissal played a part in the 5-0 drubbing Klopp’s men had to endure, but now the two sides are set to do battle one again, this time in Europe.

As it stands, City will win the double, but the treble is still possible if they can lift the Champions League trophy provided they can get past Liverpool. Away from the domestic scene, City have at times struggled and they have at times looked beatable. With Liverpool being the only side to take three points off City in the league this season, after winning 4-3, they are certainly capable of ending the dream of the treble.

Liverpool’s front three of Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane is very capable of causing any side in world football problems, and they all scored against City at Anfield in the Premier League. The movement and pace of the attacking trio will give City a lot to think about over the course of the two legs, but they must be clinical in front of goal, or they may be made to rue missed chances.

City have proven this season that they are streets ahead of everyone domestically, including Liverpool. Their squad has quality and depth in every area and they will be expected by most to make it through to the semi-finals. If City are on their game, they will win, there’s no doubt about that. You would probably have given Liverpool more of a chance if the game was a one-off rather than a two-legged affair.

A lot has been said about how to beat Manchester City this season with many suggesting that you must press them and break quickly. You could say that this is Liverpool’s style, but Klopp’s men do give teams a lot of chances by playing in this manner and a team like City will punish them time and time again. Liverpool concede goals, their defence still looks shaky even after signing van Dijk and there are still question marks over the goalkeeper, so there will certainly be goals scored, at both ends.

Whoever you think will come out on top over the two legs, it should be great viewing. Liverpool certainly have a chance, there’s no denying that, but if City play like they have for most of the campaign, it’s hard to look past them being victorious. Both fixtures should be packed full of attacking, front foot football, and it’s also a guarantee that an English side makes it to the semi-final stage too.